The finals of “March Madness” has recently been completed in Minnesota. Some people from around the country crowded into the
Twin Cities area to cheer their favorite team to victory and some came just to be a part of the
madness experience. The tournament began
with 64 teams, all with the goal of prevailing to the very end. However, only one team became the National
Basketball Champion.
The
Apostle Paul must have been a sports fan because in scripture he so often uses sports images to communicate spiritual truths.
If Paul would have been in Minnesota, I’m sure he would have enjoyed all
the events that were part of “March Madness”, and most likely he would have participated
in every one that he could.
Listen to Paul as he speaks, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run,
but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown
that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a
man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have
preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Corinthians 9:24-27).
Note three things that we ought to be
concerned about in living a Christian life.
1)
We must be disciplined, if we are to win the prize it will
take “strict training.”
2)
Our goal is to receive a lasting reward in the form of “a crown that will last forever.”
3)
We must compete
according to the rules so we will not be disapproved or “not be
disqualified.”
No one has to lose In the Christian life.
Everyone can win. Paul reminds us
that all of us should “run in such a way as to get
the prize.” Let's join together in an ongoing, disciplined, spiritual
“March Madness” regimen by learning more about Christ and living for Him every
day so as to bring glory to his name.
